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ALL rallies, even mammoth ones, are not equal. Slightly over a year since the PTI rally in Lahore shook the country’s political foundations, another would-be saviour arrived in the Punjab capital to preach a slightly different kind of politics. The turnout on Sunday for Tahir ul Qadri, chief of the Tehrik-i-Minhajul Quran, was massive, and expected. As head of a populist, Barelvi group, Mr Qadri commands support from a group of dedicated followers cultivated over the decades through an educational and preaching network that’s especially strong in Punjab but that has also spread its roots to the other provinces. Despite being a political lightweight, the charismatic Mr Qadri has adroitly meshed conservative Islam with modernist values to craft a message that appeals to a far wider cross-section of people than that of the PTI. Which is why, scanning the crowd at Manto Park on Sunday, both rural and urban, rich and poor, highly educated and less literate persons could be seen in large numbers.

Yet, support for a religious leader is one thing; turning out voters quite another. This is where Mr Qadri’s message becomes problematic. Mr Qadri has demanded that a clean, technocratic, patriotic and efficient caretaker set-up to fix all that ails Pakistan be put in place — or else his followers would descend on Islamabad and pressurise the government until his demands are met. Within that demand lies a tacit admission perhaps that the TMQ does not have the electoral support to convert his political agenda into an electoral victory that could lead to reform from within the system.

Mr Qadri’s message will strike many who have followed the trajectory of democracy in Pakistan as old and failed. But the fact that it comes so close to the first civilian-led transition in decades will have raised some alarm bells. For all its failings, the political class, that has disillusioned so many, has the one thing that other would-be saviours do not: genuine political legitimacy. It may be flawed, it may be problematic, but support for the mainstream political parties represents the democratic will of the people. It is this legitimacy, which Mr Qadri and others like him do not appear to recognise or accept, that needs to be protected by the electorate when attempts are made to snatch it away. The country is close to a general election that will be intensely competitive and which represents a genuine opportunity to move the democratic project forward. That is the fundamental change the country needs, no matter what the personal ambition of leaders like Mr Qadri may suggest.

Comments (11) Closed

Ahmed Nazir

Dec 30, 2012 11:52am

In a country where feudal dynastic politics remains some sections of society still want to call it a democracy.

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Ibrahim

Dec 30, 2012 11:14am

People tend to forget religion is inclusive of all aspects of life, that includes political, social and educational aspects. Looking into the life of Hazrat Umar (May Allah be please with him) is the perfect example of how Islam incorporated and established moral political high grounds.

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akhter husain

Dec 25, 2012 02:38pm

Pakistan is a paradise for all kind of people.Any objections?

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logic Europe

Dec 25, 2012 02:12pm

the usual problem, when a religious leader is doing good work, he wants to join politics sne than later and by any means

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Shahid Masud12

Dec 25, 2012 10:15am

Who is Tahir ul Quadery ? Is he a religious leader or is he a political leader ? I think he neither is a religious nor a political leader , Just like any other political joker he is trying to exploit people of Pakistan in the name of religion.

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akhter husain

Dec 25, 2012 02:36pm

Worries of derailment of democracy from the NEW CONTENDER is valid All affairs of the state,including change of government,must come from the electoral system ingrained in constitution,and not by mobocracy.Since we can not import the kind of people who meet the standards prescribed by Dr Qadri we have to be contended with what ever is available and give a fair chance to the system to weed out the wrong ones from political scene.Patience is the only criteria.for well being of suffering Pakistanis. .

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Aj

Dec 25, 2012 03:45pm

he is exploiting all this when PAK community is going through gas,CNG and electrical load sheddings. He has struck at the right time

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akbar bajwa

Dec 25, 2012 03:15pm

Well, saying that Mr Qadri cuts across a wider section of society than PTI is a bit of an over statement if not anything else. Or probably Dawn's editorial team is a little amnesiac.

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Agha Ata

Dec 26, 2012 12:35am

People love to mix religion with politics, so here we have a man who can do it.

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ChangaManga

Dec 26, 2012 12:52am

Qadri's stance is destructive yet seductive. Hope he does not succeed. Know this man; he is dangerous to democracy. It is much better to have a corrupt democratic government than a pious undemocratic government.